variants
or ax
plural axes
1
: a cutting tool that consists of a heavy edged head fixed to a handle with the edge parallel to the handle and that is used especially for felling trees and chopping and splitting wood
2
: a hammer with a sharp edge for dressing (see dress entry 1 sense 6e) or spalling stone
3
informal
a
: removal from office or release from employment : dismissal
—usually used with the
Employees with poor evaluations got the axe.
Trump quickly gave him the ax [=fired him] for his incompetence.—
Laura Petrecca
Laura Petrecca
b
: abrupt elimination or severe reduction of something
Unlimited expense accounts, signing bonuses, and office plants—all are getting the ax [=being cut or eliminated] thanks to corporate cost-cutting measures.—Amanda Hinnant
Amanda HinnantNo party was brave enough to offend its supporters by taking an axe to [=severely reducing] expenditure.—The Economist
The Economist4
slang
: any of several musical instruments (such as a guitar or a saxophone)
variants
or ax
axed; axing; axes
1
a
: to shape, dress (see dress entry 1 sense 6e), or trim with an axe
axe stone
b
: to chop, split, or sever with an axe
axe branches from a tree
2
informal
: to remove abruptly (as from employment or from a budget)
The TV program was axed from the new schedule.
Examples of axe in a Sentence
Noun
the company was hemorrhaging money, so 700 employees would soon be given the ax
Verb
The boss told him that he had been axed.
the boss will ax anyone who leaks company secrets
Recent Examples on the Web
New Atlas, 25 July 2025
The Soviets, at least, get points for style, and not just for the notorious ice axe that did in Trotsky.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
The streamer has reportedly ordered a fourth season of Murphy’s Monster anthology series, this time centered around infamous (alleged) axe murderer Lizzie Borden.
—Andy Swift, TVLine, 8 July 2025
Even so, while revolutionaries invariably favor an axe, this kind of wholesale carnage still is a shocker.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 7 July 2025
In any case, the debate was settled in Stalin’s favor, not through reasoned debate but via an ice axe buried in Trotsky’s skull by an assassin in 1940.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2025
Just like previous iteration, the V3 takes the form of an axe that measures 16 inches (41 cm) tall from the knob (base of the handle) to the eye up top.
—New Atlas, 25 July 2025
The short clip features Maya locking herself in the bathroom of an unfamiliar home when all of a sudden an axe comes flying through the closed door.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 24 July 2025
And my biggest fear was waking up in a police cell and having an old lady say to a police officer, yes, that's the guy who ran my husband down, or that's the guy who hit my son over the head with an axe.
—Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 24 July 2025
Jim Cramer, CNBC, 11 Aug. 2025
Since Carano was axed from The Mandalorian after the second season, many fans wondered how the Disney+ show was going to explain her absence.
—Caroline Blair, People.com, 8 Aug. 2025
This typically leads to select products or services being axed, as well as non-essential departments or roles being eliminated.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025
The vehicle proved a laughing stock in the press, and buyers never showed up; while the Navigator moved almost 44,000 units in its first full year on sale, the Blackwood languished in showrooms, prompting Lincoln to axe it after one model year and just 3,383 sales.
—Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 5 Aug. 2025
If Booster Gold is taken to series, HBO Max will resume a relationship with Jenkins, whose quirky pirate romcom Our Flag Means Death was axed after two seasons in Jan 2024, subsequently failing to find another home.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 23 July 2025
Ultimately, the Senate axed that provision from the final version of the Big, Beautiful Bill, which meant states continued to carry the authority to propose and codify AI laws that serve their immediate needs.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 23 July 2025
Jackson starred in the Fox sci-fi series Fringe and Showtime’s The Affair; his ABC medical drama Doctor Odyssey was recently axed after one season.
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 21 July 2025
Earlier this month, CBS announced plans to axe The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, a jarring move from the media giant that left many questioning the future of late-night programing.
—Matthew Leimkuehler, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Amateur lumberjacks will love popping the CAM open and pulling out the 6-in-long (15-cm) axe head only to find an 8-in (20-cm) carbon steel saw blade waiting on the other side.
—New Atlas, 25 July 2025
The Soviets, at least, get points for style, and not just for the notorious ice axe that did in Trotsky.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
The streamer has reportedly ordered a fourth season of Murphy’s Monster anthology series, this time centered around infamous (alleged) axe murderer Lizzie Borden.
—Andy Swift, TVLine, 8 July 2025
Even so, while revolutionaries invariably favor an axe, this kind of wholesale carnage still is a shocker.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 7 July 2025
In any case, the debate was settled in Stalin’s favor, not through reasoned debate but via an ice axe buried in Trotsky’s skull by an assassin in 1940.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2025
Just like previous iteration, the V3 takes the form of an axe that measures 16 inches (41 cm) tall from the knob (base of the handle) to the eye up top.
—New Atlas, 25 July 2025
The short clip features Maya locking herself in the bathroom of an unfamiliar home when all of a sudden an axe comes flying through the closed door.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 24 July 2025
And my biggest fear was waking up in a police cell and having an old lady say to a police officer, yes, that's the guy who ran my husband down, or that's the guy who hit my son over the head with an axe.
—Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 24 July 2025
Verb
Susquehanna axed its price target on Fortinet to $80 from $110 following the cybersecurity company's earnings report contained some disappointing commentary on the firewall refresh cycle.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 11 Aug. 2025
Since Carano was axed from The Mandalorian after the second season, many fans wondered how the Disney+ show was going to explain her absence.
—Caroline Blair, People.com, 8 Aug. 2025
This typically leads to select products or services being axed, as well as non-essential departments or roles being eliminated.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025
The vehicle proved a laughing stock in the press, and buyers never showed up; while the Navigator moved almost 44,000 units in its first full year on sale, the Blackwood languished in showrooms, prompting Lincoln to axe it after one model year and just 3,383 sales.
—Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 5 Aug. 2025
If Booster Gold is taken to series, HBO Max will resume a relationship with Jenkins, whose quirky pirate romcom Our Flag Means Death was axed after two seasons in Jan 2024, subsequently failing to find another home.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 23 July 2025
Ultimately, the Senate axed that provision from the final version of the Big, Beautiful Bill, which meant states continued to carry the authority to propose and codify AI laws that serve their immediate needs.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 23 July 2025
Jackson starred in the Fox sci-fi series Fringe and Showtime’s The Affair; his ABC medical drama Doctor Odyssey was recently axed after one season.
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 21 July 2025
Earlier this month, CBS announced plans to axe The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, a jarring move from the media giant that left many questioning the future of late-night programing.
—Matthew Leimkuehler, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Axe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/axe. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share